The wait is finally over – our colorful guest bedroom update is here! If you’ve been following along, you know I gave myself the challenge of transforming our guest room into a cozier space in less than a week. With the clock ticking away and guests set to arrive within days of deciding to start this project, I focused on quick but impactful updates to make things feel more welcoming. Nothing like a little last-minute pressure to really get things moving, right?

Today, I’m sharing all the details with you. From the dramatic transformation of color drenching the walls and trim to the cozy, budget-friendly finishing touches that brought it all together – it’s all in this post. I’ve also linked each source (as well as similar items), so be sure to click through and check those out!

Updating The Paint

Let’s start with a quick reminder of where we began. This room was the most confusing color – a tan that shifted between orange, beige, and even yellow depending on the light. I have no idea what hue this paint color was, but I am so happy to see it go.

Since I didn’t have time to agonize over paint samples, I went with my gut and chose a beautifully neutral and cool blue-grey. This room receives the most weather in our home – meaning it’s very hot in the afternoon. I went with this paint to visually help cool down the room on hot summer days, but knew this shade would maintain a nice, cozy atmosphere for nighttime. I am so happy with how it turned out and think this color totally transformed the entire space.

Creating Symmetry With Furniture Pieces

One of my goals for this refresh was to work with items I already owned. We’ve had this bed for years, and though it’s banged up from all our moves, it’s still sturdy and comfortable. I used a little black paint to touch up the dings and to give it a fresh look. The nightstands have been sitting unused in our basement for ages, but their warm wood finish was exactly what this room needed to balance out the cool tones on the walls. So, in they went!

The layout of this room is a bit tricky. It’s long and narrow with a double-wide closet, a bathroom door, and two windows. All of these features are unevenly placed and take up so much space in this smaller room, so I felt it was important to create some kind of symmetry where I could.

I used the longest wall to place my largest furniture and mirrored the placement of each item. This creates a focal point and makes all of the misplaced items (like the doors and windows) become less noticeable. Painting the doors and trim to match the walls also helps to blend them in and makes the space feel larger. (You can read more about my foolproof formula for painting interior doors here!)

Layering Soft Textiles & Lighting

Guest comfort is always a top priority in a guest bedroom, so I made sure to layer the bedding with plenty of options. I personally prefer sleeping with a quilt over a heavy duvet, so I doubled up on quilts instead of opting for just one. The bed now has cotton sheets, two quilts, an all-season duvet, and a cozy throw blanket. This is hands-down the most comfortable bed in the house! And with both a mattress pad and pillow topper, it’s the perfect place for our guests to comfortably unwind.

Do you recognize the striped quilt? It’s from one of my most popular posts – you can read more about it here.

I also added a small chair to the corner for a little extra coziness and function. It’s a piece I originally purchased for a client but ended up keeping due to some minor damage. After some TLC, it was ready to go and works perfectly in this space. The chair adds softness but also balances out all the legs in the room from the bed and nightstands.

In addition to incorporating soft textiles, layering in a variety of lighting also helps to create a cozy space. My favorite find is this vintage brass library floor lamp I thrifted for just $18. It fits perfectly behind the chair and balances out the modern lines of the furniture in this corner. I’m so glad I’ve finally found it a home!

I also topped the nightstands with repurposed lamps from our master bedroom. My favorite part of reusing these lamps are the raffia lampshades I found on Facebook Marketplace for just $40. They’ve added such a sweet touch and make the lamps feel like they were meant for this room. It’s amazing how the right details can pull everything together.

Adding In The Decorative Details

To finish out this space, I hung a small piece of spring inspired artwork above the bed that ties all the colors in this colorful guest bedroom together. The drapery was another thoughtful addition that I thankfully already owned. (We were using these in our family room, but I recently took them down and replaced them). Paired with blackout shades already in place, they add additional softness and allow tons of light in without feeling heavy.

While the room already feels so much more intentional, there are still a few things I need to complete. Here’s what’s on my list:

• Replace the carpet – The entire second floor has the same carpet, so we’ll tackle this project later on.
• Add an area rug – Adding a new area rug would really tie the room together and camouflage the existing carpet.
• Add more storage – A small dresser or chest would give guests a place to unpack and feel more at home. I’m keeping my eyes peeled for something vintage!
• Incorporate wall paneling or wallpaper – I’d love to add some texture and visual interest to the walls down the road.

What Do You Think?

Overall, I’m thrilled with how this colorful guest bedroom turned out. It’s not a complete overhaul, but the updates have made such a difference in creating a more welcoming and comfortable space for our guests. What I love most is that this room now feels like a reflection of our home’s personality.

What do you think of the changes? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. For a quick turnaround project, I’m so glad I took the time to add some TLC to the space. I’m not embarrased for guests to use this room now!